Integrity is often tested in the most personal ways. Nearly 25 years ago, I found myself in a confrontation with a lieutenant in the Buncombe County (NC) Sheriff's Department who had assaulted my ex-wife and son. I did what any father would do: I protected my family.
Because the lieutenant was the nephew of then-Sheriff Bobby Medford, the department launched a years-long campaign of politically motivated harassment and "bogus" charges against me. Despite the District Attorney initially refusing to file charges, the harassment continued until 2002, when I accepted a "Prayer for Judgment Continued" (PJC) to finally end the distraction and move on with my life.
The Outcome: The truth eventually surfaced. In 2007, Sheriff Bobby Medford was convicted on federal corruption, racketeering, and money laundering charges. He was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, where he later died. His downfall is documented in the book "Busted: Bobby Medford and the Fall of a Sheriff."
I make no apologies for defending my family against abuse of power. That experience forged the resilience and character that define my professional advisory work today.
Standing My Ground: Resilience in the Face of Local Corruption
